Cliff's POV
A wave of annoyance surged within me, my brows furrowing tightly.
I snapped at Elliot, "I explicitly told you to inform her not to come today. What exactly happened?"
Elliot's gaze shifted between Melinda and me.
Melinda, startled by the suffocating tension, immediately had her eyes rimmed with a circle of redness.
She hurriedly explained, her voice on the verge of tears, "This isn't Beta Elliot's fault. I told him to notify Luna Vanya... I'm aware of my status, and I don't want to cause you any trouble, so... I thought it would be more appropriate for Luna Vanya to accompany you inside..."
With that, she lowered her head, her vulnerable and helpless appearance unconsciously stirring a hint of pity in my heart.
I raised my hand to rub my temple, internally caught in a ve
